Method of containing a pot or floral grouping in a sleeve with expandable sidewalls

Abstract

A floral sleeve sized to fit a flower pot, the sleeve having a base portion with side and bottom gussets for allowing expansion from a flattened position and method of using same. The sleeve may comprise a detachable upper portion, and a skirt portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of containing a pot or a floral grouping, comprising: 
       providing a sleeve initially having a flattened condition prior to being opened for use, and having an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a first panel and a second panel, the sleeve having a tapered shape, and having an expansion element comprising a gusset in each of the first side, and the second side;  
       opening the sleeve from the flattened condition by expanding the expansion elements in the sleeve forming an opened sleeve; and  
       disposing a pot or a floral grouping within the opened sleeve.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve each gusset has an inner fold. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve further comprises a skirt portion which extends above the upper end of the pot when the pot is disposed within the sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the skirt portion has an upper end having a non-linear pattern. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve further comprises a detachable upper portion. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the detachable upper portion has a first gusset in a first side thereof and a second gusset in a second side thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the detachable upper portion is detachable via a detaching element selected from the group consisting of perforations, tear strips and zippers. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein the detachable upper portion is detachable via perforations having a non-linear pattern. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the lower end of the sleeve is curved. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the sleeve comprises an adhesive or cohesive bonding material disposed upon a portion thereof. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the sleeve substantially conforms to an overall shape of the pot when said pot is disposed within the sleeve. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 5  wherein the detachable upper portion has an upper end which has an adhesive or cohesive bonding material thereon for sealing the upper end of the upper portion. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve is defined as constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of treated or untreated paper, metal foil, polymer film, non-polymer film, cardboard, fiber, cloth, burlap, and laminations or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve is defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.1 mil to about 30 mils. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve is defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 0.5 mil to about 10 mils. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve is defined as constructed from a material having a thickness in a range of from about 1 mil to about 5 mils. 
     
     
       17. A method of containing a pot or floral grouping, comprising: 
       providing a sleeve initially having a flattened condition prior to being opened for use, and having an upper end, a lower end, a first side, a second side, a first panel and a second panel, the sleeve having an expansion element comprising a gusset in each of the first side, and the second side, and the sleeve further comprising a detachable upper portion;  
       opening the sleeve from the flattened condition by expanding the expansion elements in the sleeve forming an opened sleeve; and  
       disposing a pot or floral grouping within the opened sleeve.  
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve at least a portion of the sleeve is tapered. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the detachable upper portion is detachable via perforations. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve, the sleeve further comprises a skirt portion and wherein the detachable upper portion is detachable from the skirt portion. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the skirt portion has an upper end having a non-linear pattern. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve each gusset has an inner fold. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the lower end of the sleeve is curved. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the detachable upper portion has a first gusset in a first side thereof and a second gusset in a second side thereof. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the sleeve substantially conforms to an overall shape of the pot when said pot is disposed within the sleeve. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 19  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the detachable upper portion is detachable via perforations having a non-linear pattern. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing a sleeve the detachable upper portion has an upper end which has an adhesive or cohesive bonding material thereon for sealing the upper end of the detachable upper portion. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 5  wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the detachable upper portion is adapted to enable the sleeve to be supported on a support assembly. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 5  wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the detachable upper portion is sized to substantially enclose a floral grouping or plant disposed within the pot. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the detachable upper portion is adapted to enable the sleeve to be supported on a support assembly. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 17  wherein in the step of providing the sleeve, the detachable upper portion is sized to substantially enclose a floral grouping or plant disposed within the pot.